Efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in combination with insulin in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes and insufficient glycaemic control: A phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in combination with insulin ± oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) over 24 weeks, in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who had insufficient glycaemic control.

Materials And Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicentre phase III study. Adult patients with T2D and insufficient glycaemic control who received insulin ± up to two OADs were randomized (1:1:1) to receive empagliflozin 10 or 25 mg, or placebo for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in HbA1c at week 24.

Results: Of 219 randomized patients, 73 patients were in each treatment group; baseline characteristics were comparable among the groups. There was a significantly larger decrease from baseline in HbA1c (adjusted mean treatment difference -0.99 and -0.98 for in the empagliflozin 10 and 25 mg groups, respectively; P < .0001) with both doses of empagliflozin than with placebo. There were also significantly larger decreases from baseline in fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour postprandial glucose and body weight with both empagliflozin doses than with placebo. Among patients in the empagliflozin 10 mg, 25 mg and placebo groups, 17.8%, 9.6% and 11.0% reported confirmed hypoglycaemic events, respectively (nominal P = .2422 and .7661 in the empagliflozin 10 and 25 mg groups, respectively), and no Clinical Events Committee-confirmed diabetic ketoacidosis events were reported.

Conclusions: In Chinese patients with T2D, empagliflozin combined with insulin ± OADs improved glycaemic control and was well tolerated, without an increased risk of hypoglycaemia.